In line with the subject of that last post...

Rules to Engage a Gentleman's Interest

(If anyone can tell me where I got this piece, I'll send them an E-copy of my historical romance, The Macgregor's Daughter)

Observation #1: If a lady shows too much interest in a gentleman, he'll soon grow bored, and she'll find herself chasing after him.

Observation #2: Never pursue a gentleman. He would like nothing better. If you wish to win his heart, you mustn't dance to his tune.


Observation #3: If a gentleman is particularly stubborn, demonstrate that you can get along just fine without him. Warning...do not express this thought out loud.


Observation #4: Allow your gentleman to suspect that he is not your first choice and unless he changes your opinon, he is merely a temporary distraction.


Observation #5: Never argue with a gentleman. It isn't proper or ladylike.


Observation #6: If another lady sets her mind on your gentleman, you must ignore her attempts to sway him. This can be very discouraging but take heart. Your cheerful indifference will likely annoy her.


Observation #7: When your gentleman asks to call on you, hesitate slightly.


Observation #8: Do not overindulge at the dinner table. Nothing is more frightening to a gentleman than envisioning his future with an enormously plump wife.


Observation #9: Use discrepancy in your first season but avoid selecting any one gentleman as the exclusive recipient of your favor. Instead, use your wits as well as your charm to encourage eager young gents to engage in harmless flirtations. Not only will this fill your dance card, it will make your heart race and leave a lovely blush upon your cheeks.

Why Write?

Someone once asked me why I became a writer. The answer is complicated, and I'll try not to stray too often. Growing up in the small community of Woodville, Tennessee, our television set received only three channels, and you had to walk outside and manually position the pole antenna to get two of them. I've always been a night owl, and most nights there wasn't much to do, so naturally reading became an outlet for relieving my boredom. For me, getting lost in a good book was better than eating homemade ice cream.

Eventually I grew up, married a handsome sailor, and moved away. The first time my husband's squadron went to sea, I discovered the city library. Soon Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney were my new best friends. Until that fateful afternoon I picked up a book by Jill Tattersall. With characters who left me breathless, her romances captivated me. I became addicted. Obsessed.

Today the trend is to bombard readers with page after page of explicit sex. The romance, if there is one, is secondary. Let's face it...sex is easier to write and sell. Don't get me wrong. I've no objection to the hero and heroine rolling around in the hay, but not each and every chapter. I'd like to glimpse an enduring love blossoming beneath all that heavy breathing. Two people choosing love in spite of their differences really gets my heart racing. It's the only reason I keep reading. Without that overpowering emotion, there is no story. Only porn. And I can get that, day or night, on the cable channels.

I write historical romance. The old fashioned kind. My main characters are strong, honorable, and loyal. Sexy? Absolutely! But back to the original question of why I write...putting stories down on paper is the only way to get them out of my head. I also get a sense of satisfaction, because I know when others read about my characters, they will live forever.